Noel Bailey: It's nice that you want to think like this. But to talk about "sons of THE new south,". To promote "rebels," both of these suggest a connection the slave-south and not country-south. It may be that people want to be country-south. But they have not chosen the words that indicate a change from slavery-south. Valuing 'country' roots is different from valuing 'the south. ' Being from a southern state is different than flying the Confederate flag. Being from the south does not make anyone a racist. Pretending that the Confederate flag holds no racial tones is harder to view as 'not racist. ' And when other people shout "the south will rise again," technically that is talk against America. Some might argue it's treason. Suggesting the overthrow of the United States. Not that you or I would ever do those things ;)